Theory of Mind and Social Skills Training

Human relations contain a large invisible world beyond words and behaviors. Although inferring meaning from a look, guessing what the other person is feeling, understanding jokes or innuendos may seem like automatic reflexes for us adults, it is a complex process that needs to be learned for children. Some children's misunderstanding in social environments, difficulty in following game rules, or inability to empathize is often not a "reluctance" but a "reading" difficulty. At this point, your child's "Theory of Mind" skill, which is the capacity to understand the inner world of others, comes into play.

Theory of Mind, in its simplest terms, is the child's ability to understand that his/her own thoughts and feelings may be different from the thoughts and feelings of others. The Theory of Mind Tests we apply in our clinic allow us to measure the level at which your child has acquired this critical skill in a scientific and objective framework. Through these tests, the child; We map out the capacity to understand others' intentions, grasp jokes, recognize false beliefs, and consider different perspectives. Determining whether the source of the social maladjustment is lack of attention, impulsivity, or the inability to "read" the other person's mind directly is the first step of correct and effective intervention.

This detailed evaluation process transforms a standard Social Skills Training from the ordinary into a "tailor-made" therapy plan that is completely specific to your child. Social Skills Training, which we structured in the light of the data obtained from Theory of Mind Tests, does not just make the child memorize "saying thank you" or "waiting for his turn" mechanically; It teaches him why these behaviors are necessary and what kind of feelings they evoke in the other person. While the child's mental flexibility is increased, it is supported with cognitive and behavioral strategies by targeting specific areas where the child experiences "social blindness".

As a result, social skills training integrated with Theory of Mind assessment is your child's most reliable compass in the complex social world. Building these core competencies on a scientific basis, which will deeply affect not only today's peer relationships but also future academic and professional relationships, forms the basis of our clinical approach.